Pup your mind to it and name guide dog

Becky Inman

FREE Press readers are being asked to feel the puppy love and take a paws for thought with the chance to name a new guide dog.

We have teamed up with Lakeside Village to offer readers the chance to name the town’s next guide dog after the shopping centre raised the £5,000 needed to put the pup through its 18-month training programme.

Cheryl Sadler, Lakeside Village manager said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the Guide Dogs Association yet again, to help raise money and provide someone with a life changing companion.

“It’s fantastic we are able to offer someone the chance of naming a special new puppy as a thank you for all the great support our customers have given us, to help us raise over £15,000 for the cause”.

Readers are asked to put forward the name they think the unborn pup should have, and give a reason - then the best suggestions will be put to the charity Guide Dogs UK to make the final decision.

The puppy will be specially bred and is likely to be a Labrador retriever cross.

It is the third puppy to be sponsored by Lakeside Village. Black Labrador Laker and golden lab Parky have previously been put through their paces in 2009 and 2011 with money raised by shoppers.

Parky was named in memory of former Doncaster RLFC player Kevin Parkhouse, who was killed in a car accident in 2006.

Once the new puppy has been born, and named, it will go to a specially trained puppy walker who will care for it for six months.

Then their four-legged friend will go for training at “guide dog school” for a further four months.

Pam White, the Guide Dog Association’s district fundraiser, thanked Lakeside Village shoppers for their support.

She said: “We’re so grateful for the support from Lakeside; they have been so supportive and raised a huge amount of awareness for the Guide dogs.”

HOW TO ENTER

To suggest a name for the new puppy email your suggestion and the reason for the name to Roopa.Pandit@primalpr.com by April 14.

The winning entry will announced in the Free Press shortly after the closing date.

The winner will also get the chance to meet the dog at Lakeside Village when he or she starts their training.

Anyone who would like to help raise cash for another guide dog can do so by logging on to www.guidedogsgiving.org.uk